Three Men Sentenced Today for Drug Trafficking in Kern County

Three Men Sentenced Today for Drug Trafficking in Kern County

FRESNO, CA—Today, United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced three defendants in two cases for trafficking methamphetamine, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

In the first case, Jose Mojarro Cruz, aka Shyboy, 28, of Bakersfield was sentenced to 15 years and nine months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2015. Co-defendant Arnoldo Delgado Garcia (Delgado), aka Fabricio Rene Delgado-Perea, 35, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison. On May 11, 2015, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.

According to court documents, from May 2013 through January 2014, the defendants regularly distributed methamphetamine and heroin to various drug dealers and users in Kern County. The defendants admitted to distributing between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 1,000 grams of heroin. Co-defendant Erik Gesus Rivera, 28, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and on September 21, 2015, was sentenced to two years in prison.

This case was the product of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Southern Tri-County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Delaney prosecuted the case. Case # 1:14-cr-048 LJO

In the second case, Judge O’Neill sentenced Juan Lascano Jr., 32, of Bakersfield, to 10 years in prison. On July 27, 2015, Lascano pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Lascano and his co-defendants conspired to distribute pound-quantities of methamphetamine in the Bakersfield area. On September 21, 2015, co-defendant Guillermo Magallanes, 36, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and co-defendant Pasqual Gonzales Magallanes, 44, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.

Sentencing for the two co-defendants is scheduled for December 14, 2015. Guillermo Magallanes faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $5 million fine, and Pasqual Gonzales Magallanes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

In addition to the criminal charges, the United States is seeking the forfeiture of $31, 242, a 2014 Lexus IS250 F Sport, and a 2012 Acura TL sedan as proceeds of the illegal drug trafficking activity.

This case is the product of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Delaney is prosecuting the case. Case # 1:15-cr-049 LJO